Chapter 1: Hello…

POV: Zac / Gabby

 

August 12, 2007; Sunday

Whoever said we should leave late afternoon and drive through the night was a genius. It meant I could sleep in and not worry about being super late like last time. We were set to leave after dinner, which was on us and I’d gone with pizza, Carrick and Austin had joined me and now we were chilling on the bus, waiting on my brother Taylor. Bus call was at six and it was 6:15 and he wasn’t here yet.

“Is he ever on time?” Carrick asked.

“Nope. We figured with a late bus call he would be, but so far fifteen minutes late.”

“Anyone else we’re missing?”

“Taylor and one other person, something Frost…I wasn’t listening when Taylor told me who he hired as the assistant or roadie. I was kind of hoping he’d hired that guy from a few years ago again but I don’t think he did.”

We kept waiting and another twenty minutes passed, I was staring out the window watching Isaac talking to the drummer for Carrick’s band, Michael or Mikey. It was almost seven before a black car pulled up, it was a small compact care but Taylor got out of the passenger door. I couldn’t see the driver.

“It’s about time but who is that?”

“No idea, I haven’t seen that car before.”

“Maybe the roadie?”

“Maybe.”

A man got out of the driver’s side door, he was tall with dark brown hair that trailed into blonde, his hair was just below the shoulders. Someone else got out and based on the hair I assumed it was a girl, probably his girlfriend here to take the car back.

“Taylor go bi-sexual on us?”

“No, he has a girlfriend though. Her name is Stella.”

“Aww, would she not come to you first?” Austin asked.

I flipped him the bird and kept watching. “Damn what a piece of ass, that is one lucky dude.”

“No shit, you haven’t even seen the rack yet.” Carrick said.

Based on his gesture it was pretty sizeable, so I kept my eyes glued to the nice ass outside the window, she turned briefly to say something to Taylor and oh yeah, nice rack.

“Wonder if she really is his girlfriend…” I mused.

“Why not go and ask?” Austin asked.

“Not making an ass out of myself, that’s why. Be my luck she is and he’d want to start something.”

I watched her a few more minutes, couldn’t see her face but fuck the assets were quite nice and I had to turn around to prevent any foreseeable reactions that I can’t do shit about. I contemplated going out and dragging Taylor onto the damn bus, just so we could go. I could hear them loading bags into the bus, so it wouldn’t be long.

“Diva has arrived.” Austin joked.

Our back-up players were joining us there, they’d flown out earlier this week having family in the area, so the ride should be quite. Taylor finally graced us with his presence about 7:15.

“Took you long enough.” I said.

“I would have been here sooner but my car wouldn’t start, I had to call for a ride.”

“Sure Tay, we believe you.” I said.

“Kiss off Zac, when we get home I’ve got to put that piece of junk in the garage or hell buy a new one.”

Carrick was looking out the door and I heard him whistle and then he giggled but he didn’t say anything on why he did either of those things.

“Did you hit the bottle early Carrick?”

“No…I just think this will be one very interesting tour. Hey Tay, who was the guy?”

“Max, he was nice enough to come pick me up and bring me as well, so damn glad I had his number. The roadie is also here.”

“Frost?” I asked.

“Yep, please Zac don’t be an ass to this one.”

“I’ll try not to. Where is he anyway?” I said.

Taylor gave me this crooked smile. “Putting away stuff in the bunk above yours.”

“Are you fucking serious?”

“You said the bunk above you was not being used for junk like last time, so you get the roadie little bro.”

There was absolutely nothing worse than having some guy above you trying to jack off quietly, there was no way in fucking hell I was sleeping under him. I got up to go inform this Jack Frost to find another bunk, I’d take the junk over him. The others began to laugh but Carrick just had this smirk on his face. They surely understood why I didn’t want him there, I pulled the door opened and stepped into the hallway but the person standing in front of my bunk was no man, the rack and ass proved that. I evidently startled her as well.

“Oh..Hi..I didn’t know anyone else was back there. Zac, right? Drummer?”

I was momentarily lost in the caramel eyes looking at me, the perfect little smile and were those dimples I saw?! Her hair was down, long and brown with a slight wave to it. She was wearing a simple green t-shirt and a pair of black shorts and legs for miles to the simple flip flops.

“Hello? Are you ok?”

“Yeah, just..I wasn’t expecting you. I was expecting your boyfriend actually.”

She laughed. “He’s not my boyfriend, no Max is scheduled on another tour leaving in a month. When Taylor called him he recommended me.”

“Yeah..”

“So, you are Zac right?”

“One and only.”

I couldn’t help but let my eyes travel, the neck that I wanted to touch, the breast that seemed to be perfect and the flat stomach, it was actually Isaac that brought me out of my little trance when suddenly it was his legs and not hers I was seeing. She wasn’t even in the hallway anymore!

“Where did she go?”

“She went to meet Carrick and the others. Really, Zac. Might want to open your ears a bit there.”

“Who is she?”

“She’s the assistant slash roadie that Taylor hired.”

“Since when did we hire women for that? We’ve always had men.”

“Since she was the only one willing to work for us? Because a certain band member keeps being assholes to the others. Really, did you not think word would get around Zac? Don’t be an asshole to this one because, really...she may bite back.”

He went to the back and I snorted, she’d be putty in my hands by the end of the week. I hadn’t found a woman yet that could resist me, she won’t be any different. I checked my bunk and found my headphones and then returned to the lounge where they were sitting around, she was sitting beside Carrick all smiles and I put 2 and 2 together, his giggle was because he saw the guy leave and knew she was staying. Despite the smiles she had I knew that Carrick had a steady girlfriend, for that matter I think everyone did but myself.

“So, do we call you Frost or what? Since my older brother felt it was important to withhold your name from me.”

“Well you could but most people call me Gabby.”

“Tell me that’s not because you talk all the time? I don’t know if I can handle that.”

Yep, that got me two looks from both of my brothers and the others on the bus, but may as well be me.

“Actually maybe it’s better if you call me Ms. Frost. But no, it’s a nickname. Gabriella is my name.”

Gabriella, that was a much better name than Gabby. “Well, Gabriella, that seems more fitting than Gabby or well, at the moment it does.”

I sat down on the bean bag chair and got my ear buds, tune them out. She talked with Carrick and the other’s, but she seemed more occupied with them than anyone else. I decided to crash early and sometime around ten I went to bed. I heard her climb into the bunk above me about an hour later.

 

-Gabby-

4 pm

“Gabs! Are you packed yet?” Maxwell yelled.

“Almost! Don’t rush me!”

Truth was I was scared and nervous to even be traveling again but as Maxwell had said, I needed to get out there and I couldn’t just not work. He was more than willing to help me and when Taylor called him a few weeks ago, he recommended me. I had spoken to Taylor a few times since then and agreed to take the job.

Hanson was not a band I was use too, I had been doing this since I was 17 and most of the bands were rock or alternative cover bands but Hanson had more of a mellow and lower key lyrics and music, it was rock but not hardcore rock.

“They aren’t drug addicts are they?” I asked.

Maxwell showed up at the door and scowled. “No Gabrielle, they are not. To my knowledge the band itself doesn’t do drugs, I’ve heard rumors but when I toured with them before they didn’t. They do drink which you should avoid, but there not drunks. Why are you not packed?”

I surveyed the bed, clothes scattered all over the bed, but the suitcase was empty and I just flopped down on the edge.

“I don’t think I can do this Maxwell.”

He came over and sat down. “Gabby, there not Simon and his band. I’ve toured with them and yeah the youngest is a bit of an asshole at times, but it’s not bad. I wouldn’t have recommended you if I thought they would hurt you in any way.”

“You realize half of what I have is what he got? What he wanted me to wear?”

He turned and surveyed the bed. “I tell you what, you go shower well because we know how tours are. I’ll pack for you. I know them fairly well and I think I can find something you’ll be fine in.”

“Deal.”

I got up and left him in the room and I went to shower. I was still nervous as I showered and got dried off, but I heard him talking to someone and walked to the bedroom in my towel.

“Sure Tay, no problem. I’ll be dropping Gabby off anyway so we can drop you off.”

He put more clothes in the suitcase which was now up to two and he turned to me and pointed to a suit of clothes on the bed. I got them and started to get dressed. Maxwell wasn’t my boyfriend but it wasn’t anything he hadn’t already seen and he didn’t seem to be staring at me anyway. He finally said bye and hung-up.

“Taylor?” I asked.

“Yeah, his car won’t start and he’s close to me kind of. I volunteered to stop by and pick him up too.”

“That’s fine.”

“So, you’re packed and ready. I didn’t include pants but Capri’s because it’s early, but you’ll want to switch them out for the Tulsa stop.”

I nodded and just stood there, months on a bus with all men, I should be use to this but then again my experiences with tours were not the best. I smiled some when Maxwell put his arms around me.

“It’s going to be okay Gabriella. I’m a phone call away and Abigail is too.”

“I know, but you still won’t be there.”

“You’ll be fine. About ready?”

“No, but I don’t guess I don’t have much choice here do I?”

“Well, yes but I think they’ll be fine. I’ll put your suitcases in the car.”

I gathered anything extra and put them in my last one and my shower bag. I hated the feeling of leaving him but I knew it was for the best. I couldn’t always hide. We left in time to get Taylor and the drive to his house was quiet, we got out at his apartment building and went up, Max was sure he’d need us both to help. A woman answered the door, pretty dark hair that was almost black with blonde highlights throughout, dark eyes and lean body, she was very nice looking.

“Can I help you?”

“Maxwell Reed and Gabriella Frost, Taylors expecting us we came to bring him to the bus.”

“Hi! I’m Stella Cortell, his girlfriend. Come in. He’s almost done packing.”

We stepped inside and I saw like 10 suitcases, was he bringing the whole closet with him?! Stella appraised me for a moment though, great just what I needed a jealous girlfriend.

“You will be joining them right?”

“Yes, Taylor actually hired me at Maxwell’s recommendation.”

“He told me there would be a girl on board, you have nothing to worry about from Taylor or Isaac, but watch out for Zac.”

“Now Stella, don’t scare her away before we get there!” Taylor said.

He shocked me by pulling me in for a hug, I know that my frozen stance must have completely been oblivious to him, because he let me go and hugged Maxwell as well.

“Thank you so much! I called Isaac but he said they were already there. I was hoping you hadn’t left yet.”

“We had some packing issues.”

“Oh god, I think Taylor packed his entire closet.” Stella said.

“Not all of it, just most…but I like to have a lot of clean clothes.”

“I can relate.” I said.

Taylor was totally happy and upbeat but Maxwell had given me some information on his likes, coffee. Apparently he lived on the stuff. In addition to that his suitcases had to weight a fucking ton each, what the hell did this man own?! We were going to be late and we all knew it. But, there wasn’t anything else we could do. We left his apartment after what felt like a ten minutes goodbye session with Stella and Maxwell headed to the bus.

“Maxwell said you’d done this before?” Taylor asked.

“I have for some time now, pretty familiar with the process.”

“I’m sure he’s told you but my little brother can be…well he can be an asshole at times. We’re hoping he grows up one day really but it hasn’t occurred yet. If he becomes too much for you just tell me or Ike.”

“Deal, pretty sure I can handle him.”

“Maxwell assured me you could.”

I shot Maxwell a glance, I wasn’t sure I even wanted to know what he told him. The car fell into silence and the rest of the trip was that way, the whole fifteen minutes. There bus was standard from the outside and Isaac was standing outside with the driver, he looked mildly annoyed and Taylor hopped out to explain. Maxwell got out and then I did, approaching them and meeting Isaac for the first time. He was so nice, teasing me some about being late but I quickly blamed Taylor and they laughed. I looked at Taylor and he was just smiling.

“It’s okay, running joke. Anything breaks, blame me.” He said.

“Not fair, what if I broke it?”

“Well, don’t blame me then!”

“Blame Zac.” Isaac said.

“I shall.”

“Well, I think we should get the bus loaded so we can head out, thank god I’m the tour manager.” Isaac said.

“Totally.”

We began to load the suitcases, mine felt so light compared to his. But I had a huge bay so I told him to shove his into mine too because really, I didn’t need that much with me. The driver got on and was starting the bus as we finished up.

“Alright Gabby, I’m headed home. You got everything right?”

“Yeah, my last bag goes in my bunk…”

He smiled. “You’ll be fine. You have your phone right?”

“Yeah, thank you.”

“You need one so they can reach you.”

He gave me the best bear hug he could. “I believe in you and I know you can do this. Keep in touch.”

“Thank you.”

I walked to where Taylor and Isaac were and they gave me my bus key and we got on, generic bus on the inside too.

“Forgot, this is Mr. Blackwell, he goes by DJ though. He’s our driver for this tour.” Isaac said.

“Pleased to meet you Ma’am, are we all present? Seems too small.”

“Most are in Nebraska already.” Isaac said.

“Ahh, Zac and the opener are in the back. Let’s roll!”

We giggled and walked down the front space, but I had no idea what bunk was mine.

“Um, Which one?”

“You’ll be above Zac, he refused to let that be the junk one. Is the top okay, if not I can switch.” Isaac said.

“No, the top is okay. I don’t roll out or anything and if I do, well..let’s hope I don’t break anything.”

They giggled and Taylor went to the back, Isaac the front. I was glad that the bunk they indicated wasn’t above my head or anything, in fact it was perfect height for me to hop in without needing to step in his. I started setting my things up, pillow and chargers and extras. I heard the door in the back open suddenly and it startled me, reminded me of how Simon came out. But I turned and was faced with another man, not Simon. The chocolate brown eyes softened as he looked at me. His hair was shaggy but longer and brown.

“Oh..Hi..I didn’t know anyone else was back there. Zac, right? Drummer?”

He just stared at me, almost like he couldn’t believe I was here.

“Hello? Are you ok?” I asked.

“Yeah, just..I wasn’t expecting you. I was expecting your boyfriend actually.”

I laughed. “He’s not my boyfriend, no Maxwell is scheduled on another tour leaving in a month. When Taylor called him he recommended me.”

“Yeah..”

“So, you are Zac right?”

“One and only.”

I watched as his eyes left my face and lingered on the breast, fuck I should have worn a looser shirt. His eyes kept traveling and I eventually just diverted around him and went to the back. Taylor was crashed on the sofa with the opening band.

“Guys this is Gabby, she’s the assistant roadie, this is Austin and Carrick. There third man is already in his bunk apparently but his name is Mickey.” Taylor said.

“Yeah, Mikey laid down already.” Austin said.

“Oh..” Taylor said.

“Hi.” I said.

“It’s nice to meet you.” Austin said.

“You too. It’s Everybody Else right?”

“You’ve heard our music?”

“Well, Maxwell has and he kind of made me listen to stuff. I mean I got a crash course in Hanson. He said I needed to be familiar with the music.”

“Nice.”

I sat beside Carrick because he had available seats and he asked me what songs I liked the most off the album and then he had to refresh me on what they were. Zac returned to the longue and he seemed to appraise where I was.

“So, do we call you Frost or what? Since my older brother felt it was important to withhold your name from me.”

“Well you could but most people call me Gabby.”

“Tell me that’s not because you talk all the time? I don’t know if I can handle that.”

I raised an eyebrow at that, never had anyone asked me that and really Maxwell had been complaining about me being too quite, but his warning about him being an asshole resonated with me.

“Actually maybe it’s better if you call me Ms. Frost. But no, it’s a nickname. Gabriella is my name.”

He seemed to think about it before he looked at me. “Well, Gabriella, that seems more fitting than Gabby or well, at the moment it does.”

He then flopped down on the bean bag and went to listening to music, what a prick! I turned my attention back to Carrick.

“He’s…”

“No need to say it, I’ve been warned. So, tell me more about Buttons for Punishment, I found that one to be one of the favorites.”

He smiled and explained the meaning to me and we talked, it was a bit strange to be on a bus where I wasn’t expected to do anything and I had a contract that outlined my expectations. Zac sat quietly tapping his legs to the beat and a few times I recognized the beat he was playing or the words. Foo Fighters was a common theme in his list, I even recognized Soundgarden too. Yet, the one he seemed to be the most into was Disturbed, Stricken to be exact because it played a few times before he went to bed.

I decided to crash about 11, it was going to be a long day for me. I climbed into the bunk quietly and closed the curtain. I went to the phone and sent Maxwell a text.

Day 1 – it was okay. I just feel kind of out of place, hope that ends soon :/ Met Zac, see what you mean by arrogant asshole. Stared at my tits for like 3 minutes straight. Is that *normal*?

Rofl – that sounds exactly like Zac. Don’t be shocked if he brings women onto the bus for….well, you know. He did that frequently when I traveled. Otherwise, glad you’re okay and I am sure you’ll feel better once the tour begins and you’re not idle.

Seriously? What the hell is he a whore? I hope so.

That…I can’t answer because I don’t know *what* they do! I assumed some form of sex. Don’t get attached Gabby, he’s not a relationship guy.

Not a problem, I plan to be a sex off limits girl. Was on that approach with Simon…

Hey…no thinking about that jackass. You control that and no one else.

Thanks…anyway sleep calls. I’ll text you tomorrow when or better yet, if I can.

Ok. Night Gabs. Sleep well.

I laid the phone down and moved to get comfortable before I let the steady rocking lull me to sleep.

 

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